ECCE Information for Parents

 

Important ECCE Message for Parents and Providers

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme

Please note that a change has occured relating to new ECCE entrants. Service Providers now will be funded  for New Entrants entering the ECCE programme at any time during a term.  Service Providers and the Parent/Guardian must complete a new entrant form (ECCE Form 1).  A copy of the child’s birth certificate/passport and evidence of the PPS number, i.e., a copy of a letter from the Department of Social Protection or HSE medical card must accompany this form to ensure payment.
All New Entrant applications should be marked for  the attention of Ann Tarpey in the Childcare Directorate.
A child my also  increase their level of service, (e.g., from 3 to 5 days) during a term.   ECCE form 6 should be used for an increase in level of service.

Normal Transfer Arrangements

Where a child is moved from one service to another after 23rd September 2011, the usual transfer rules will apply, i.e. an ECCE Form 2 (Transfer form) must be completed by both services and the parent.  The first service will receive payment in respect of the child up to the end of the term in which the child transfers out, and the second service will receive payment from the beginning of the term following the date on which the child transferred.  PARENTS SHOULD, THEREFORE, be aware that if a child is moved from one service to another in the middle of a term, they will have to pay the second service for that child until the beginning of the following term  when the capitation fee is transferred.

Pre-School Terms 2011/2012

  • Term 1. September – December 2011
  • Term 2. January – March 2012
  • Term 3. April – June 2012
  • Term 4. July – August 2012 (daycare services)

 

Free Preschool Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme

A Free Preschool Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme was announced by the Government in April this year. The free preschool place will be available from January 2010.

The scheme will raise standards in that all services wishing to participate must implement the national framework for early childhood care and education of Síolta to help them deliver appropriate educational programme based activities.

Children with special needs who had benefited from the first “short” year of the ECCE, were previously allowed in exceptional cases to access a second, “full” year in September in Sept 2010. The OMCYA have issued notice that a second pre-school year is not available under the ECCE in subsequent years, including the September 2011 year. Parents of children with special needs can still choose to apply to avail of the scheme on a pro rata payment over 2 years i.e spreading the pre-school year over two years, generally on the basis of 2 days in the 1st year and 3 days in the 2nd year.

What age must my child be to avail of a free preschool place?

This scheme is open to children who, on the 1st September, are at least 1 day older than 3 years and 2 months, and at least 1 day younger than 4 years 7 months.  The effect of this is that children born between 2 February 2007 and 30 June 2008 may enter the scheme from September 2011. Exceptions will continue to be considered where children have been assessed by the HSE as having special needs which will delay their entry to school or it is appropriate to accept children at an older age due to the enrolment policy of the local primary school. To establish your child’s eligibility, parents will be asked for details such as the child’s name, date of birth and PPS number.

How many hours can my child attend the free preschool?

If your child is attending a sessional service she/he may attend for 3 hours per day, five days a week for 38 weeks per year. Where the service operates for 4 days per week your child may attend for 3 hours 45 minutes per day for 38 weeks of the year.

It is not mandatory for children to attend 5 days per week but services are advised by OMCYA to give preference to parents who will avail fully of the free preschool scheme.

If your child is attending a full or part-time daycare service, she/he has the opportunity to attend for 2 hours 15 minutes per day, five days a week for 50 weeks (241 days) per year. A full or part-time service may also choose to provide a sessional service over 38 weeks of a year.

Will I have to pay any additional fees?

Parents will be asked to pay for hours which are additional to the free pre-school year. Services may also charge for optional additional one-off or ongoing activities or services such as outings, birthday parties, specific teaching resources such as dance or music, and food.

What kind of preschool programme will be offered?

Your local service may offer a programme that is guided by a number of philosophies including Montessori, Highscope, Play based, Steiner, Waldorf, Naonraí etc.

Regardless of the individual philosophy of the service, all services participating in the Free Preschool ECCE Scheme will be required to offer programmes that reflect the principles and standards of Síolta the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and in the future will be guided by Aistear The Framework for Early Learning.

How do I know which pre-schools are on the scheme?

Official Notification of successful services will be available on Longford County Childcare Committee’s website as soon as this information has been made available from the department.

What is Síolta?

Síolta is a quality assurance process which addresses all aspects of practice in early childhood care and education services. It is designed to support practitioners to develop high quality services for children aged birth to six years and is relevant to all settings where children spend time out of their home environment.

What is Aistear?

Aistear the Framework for Early Learning supports childcare practitioners in planning for and providing enriching, challenging and enjoyable learning opportunities for children from birth to six years. It can be used in different types of settings including children’s homes, childminding settings, full and part-time daycare, sessional services and infant classrooms.

The aim of the Framework is to help every child to grow and develop as a competent and confident learner within loving and nurturing relationships with adults and peers.

How will services offering the free preschool scheme be structured and operated?

Private services must be trading as a sole trader or partnership. Community based services must be trading as limited liability company or school Board of Management. Community based services depend on Parents using the service to get involved in the management of the service and can only establish a limited liability company where parents and the wider community are willing to be involved by becoming a director and/or member of the company.

How will services offering the free preschool scheme be regulated?

Services offering the free preschool must be notified to the HSE as a pre-school service and have a satisfactory level of compliance with the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006. During the period January 2010 – August 2010, services registered with the Irish Montessori Educational Board (IMEB) will be considered to meet this requirement.

Will childcare staff be experienced and suitably qualified?

The preschool leader is required to have at least 2 years experience and hold a major award in childcare/early education at a minimum of level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ) or an equivalent recognised qualification in the childcare/early education field within the first 2 years of the ECCE Scheme. As an interim measure, the preschool leader is required to hold minor awards in the areas of child development and early childhood education.